” ‘Racism is a cancer on this earth’ said one contributor to the project, poet and urban griot Levi Tafari. Continuing the Journey provides a powerful platform that acknowledges the racism that people of African and Caribbean heritage have experienced and continue to experience.

The project’s aim was to give contributors a voice to share their often painful and traumatic experiences of racism through film, photography and audio recordings, as well as offering a wider platform for learning, discussion and debate so that we can work together towards a more cohesive, respectful and accepting future in which illogical racial and cultural stereotypes have no place in our lives.

Community partners Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre and Steve Biko Housing Association supported the project sharing the activities to their service users and networks. This reach was increased through word of mouth as contributors talked about the project within their communities. The response from this call out for experiences was overwhelming and could have continued beyond the scope of the project. Contributors and audience members have suggested that there are many more unheard voices and Stray Cat Media will endeavour to extend this reach in the future.

Contributors shared specific experiences of racism without knowledge of what other members of their community had shared. Sadly it became apparent that the effects of racism begin in childhood – with memories dating back to children as young as 5, as in ‘Clint’s Story 1969′, and even younger. Stray Cat Media worked with local community members and sixth formers at Broadgreen International School to develop an animated film. It was created through photography, drawing, watercolour and digital manipulation for each of the individual assets. This approach resulted in a powerful animation, which all participants were proud of.

“I feel angry, proud, like that useless child, but having a much more constructive way to tell people. It’s weird I locked it away, well the feelings, and I am glad that you have given me a way to close it in a positive way. Young people are learning right from wrong because of the excellent and positive way you are getting it across. My feelings are mixed but positive. … I questioned the title “Continuing The Journey” but it so is apt, because the journey unfortunately will continue. But at least others and I can clearly see positives are coming out of the journey.” Contributor Clint Agard

Themes naturally began to form emphasizing that racism affects every strand of life from friendships, education, work, family, housing and everyday encounters. Ten of these shorter experiences were formatted into two minute films and are on display at the International Slavery Museum. The earliest of these experiences dates back to the 1920s. Race equality campaigner and activist Maria O’Reilly recalls her father being spat at as a baby in his pram and then her being chased from a community party, aged 3. Others recall experiences in education, employment and with the police with the most recent contribution happening in 1998. The International Slavery Museum display also includes photographs and quotes shared by a selection of our contributors, with the full photographic body of work permanently housed at the Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre.

All the experiences demonstrate the strength and resilience of the individuals who shared their experiences and continued their journey despite the pain they were subjected to. 31 people shared their experiences through audio recordings – resulting in an invaluable archive of hundreds of experiences. And although the sharing of the experiences was difficult many commented on its benefits.

“How it felt when I gave my story?… It felt like a weight off my chest because I never really said anything like this before, I never went into my past life that deep as I did today.” Contributor Tony Welch

“You know I think one of my regrets, is we never did this with the generation before us. It’s absolutely critically important…Who knows in a hundred years time … the generation of kids … can see where their history comes from and I think it’s important.” Contributor Wally Brown

The team also filmed some of the experiences which resulted in a 20 minute documentary film highlighting racism and its impact. The film is moving, shocking and powerful, as one young audience member, Serli, explained:

“It was surprising and inspiring to see what people have been through before us and how they have moved forward – it gives me strength to continue my journey.”

For the Stray Cat Media team, it was an honour to meet such resilient people who had the strength and insight to see the power of the collective. Continuing the Journey is a testament to all who have struggled against the injustice of racism and who continue to fight against it. We are extremely proud to have had the opportunity to document a community’s journey and share these important teachings through the display at International Slavery Museum and look forward to continuing to disseminate this significant body of work through an educational tour so that young people can challenge racist actions constructively and influence future generations.”

If you would like for find out more about the project, or get involved in the educational tour please contact Leila@straycatmedia.org.

]]>http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2015/07/continuing-the-journey/feed/0Encounters – Broken Liveshttp://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2015/07/encounters-broken-lives/
http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2015/07/encounters-broken-lives/#commentsTue, 07 Jul 2015 11:08:19 +0000http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/?p=8544To accompany our powerful new exhibition Broken Lives: slavery in modern India, we have a series of talks and events exploring the themes and issues in the display. The next talk on Saturday 11 July will highlight how some Dalit women and girls are forced into ritual sex slavery as Joginis and what is being done to combat this exploitation. Later on in the year on 21 November, author David Skivington will be talking about why modern slavery in India is central to his writing.

Here, David tells us more about what inspired him to use his second novel to raise awareness of the Jogini system:

“Take a second and think about the last time you discovered something which really shocked you. It might have been something you saw or heard, or maybe a story you read in the paper. What did you do?

When I was 18 I volunteered in Kolkata for a year. Walking down a bustling street in the midday heat a man approached me and engaged in conversation. Naïvely assuming he just wanted to chat I obliged in pleasantries, before he leaned in and asked if I was looking for young girls for sex. Reaching into his pocket he began to withdraw photos, before I pushed past him without looking back.

“That was my first encounter with modern day slavery and the moment has haunted me ever since.”

Sickened by the man’s proposal, and annoyed by my own inaction against him, I went onto research human trafficking over the next few years. Every statistic I saw or story I heard made me more determined to let other people know the magnitude of the issue. This led me to write a crime thriller novel on human trafficking in India, with the aim of engaging people through a fast paced story, while challenging them to act against trafficking by supporting charities involved in that field.

I later returned to India with my wife, working in an orphanage school with Dalit children in danger of being trafficked. However, it was not until I came across the work of the Dalit Freedom Network that I became aware of another deeply disturbing form of modern day slavery; temple prostitution.

While visiting a temple of the goddess Yellamma, I was told about the practice of the Devadasi or Jogini. Young girls would vow never to take a husband, but instead be dedicated to the temple. When these girls reached puberty they would then be used the men of the village, whenever they wanted them. In certain cases the men’s wives would actively encourage them to visit the girls because they believe that it would bring blessings to their family.

Deeply disturbed by our visit to the temple and conversations with ladies working with the Joginis, I again felt driven to take action. After lots more research to understand an extremely complex and diverse practice, I am currently working on my second novel to raise awareness of this system.

I hope that these moments which shocked me might inspire others into action against these horrendous forms of modern day slavery.”

“Poised on the Uhuru peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro, I savoured the moment of triumph, having overcome many obstacles to scale the peak. I was one of the 48 women who climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro as part of our movement’s initiative to raise awareness and funds to fight human trafficking all over the world. Uhuru in Swahili means ‘Freedom’ and the climb was a symbolic representation of overcoming the struggles faced by the oppressed, enslaved, exploited and trafficked women and children, every day.

I work in India, a land of contrasts, not in the least because it is a land of great wealth and greater poverty! During one of my childhood visits to a South Indian village, I vividly recall seeing some sari-clad women without slippers and blouses. At that time, I’d attributed it to poverty, but now, working with the marginalized and poor, I realize that a complex system of social stratification has left many people broken, disenfranchised, and subject to discrimination.

My work with Pratigya in India focuses on trafficking prevention initiatives. Working with the local government, we create an enabling environment for girls and women in danger of being trafficked, by giving them easy access to education, marketable skills and healthcare, to break free from the cycle of exploitation and abuse. Several rescues are testimony to the fact that meaningful interventions can transform lives.

I’d like to share one such story.

“I was tortured again and again”, cried little Deepti. Bearing severe lash marks, young Deepti and her distraught mother landed in the slums of Bangalore; thrown out by the very people they considered family. Identified by one of our community development workers as being vulnerable, Deepti was brought to our shelter. Our staff’s loving care helped Deepti to quickly recover emotionally, even before the physical scars on her body had faded. In a couple of years she became an outstanding student at one of our schools in Bangalore.

Receiving a call from an elated Deepti that she’d graduated from Grade 10 with distinction, was further evidence of her progress. The triumph and joy in her voice resonated with the sense of triumph and joy I’d experienced at the peak following my arduous ascent up Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Deepti now desires to pursue a career in the medical field. The challenges in this work with girls and women, is reminiscent of those we faced while scaling the peak, but the joy we experience when they succeed makes it all worthwhile.

I am glad that the Broken Lives exhibition will enable people in the UK to discover the experiences of others who are being exploited, and how this is being addressed from the government down to inspiring individuals who are helping to mend broken lives.”

Jeeva will be giving a talk at the International Slavery Museum on 27 June 2015 at 1pm. It is a drop in event, so no need to book. Broken Lives: slavery in modern India opens 26 June 2015.

Alice Seeley Harris’ photographs of the Free State Congo in the 1900s revealed the horror of colonial violence and exploitation to the world. Our exhibition Brutal Exposure: the Congo at the International Slavery Museum highlights how these images were used to overthrow King Leopold II’s brutal regime. Over a century after Alice took these photographs, students in Kansas have been inspired by her story and have developed a wonderful project acknowledging her work. One of the students tells us more…

“My name is Avery Stratton. I am a senior at Washburn Rural High School in Topeka, Kansas, in the United States. A couple of my peers and I are currently working on an entry for the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Project competition in Fort Scott, Kansas, which is an effort to highlight individuals who have demonstrated immense courage and compassion in the past who may have not received the recognition they deserve

Alexis Balaun, one of our team members, discovered Alice Seeley Harris while watching a documentary on the Congo. Alice’s heart-wrenching photos were showcased, but not much was said about the person behind the camera. Intrigued by this brave woman, Alexis presented her to our group and we knew that Alice would make the perfect focus for our project.

Upon further investigation, we found the International Slavery Museum’s exhibition ‘Brutal Exposure’, which proved to be a great resource for our project. We were surprised by the coincidence of our discovery and the museum exhibition’s opening. We have decided to showcase Alice’s story in a documentary setting.

The goal of our work is to shed light on Alice’s story and give her the commendation that her bravery so very much deserves. What’s sad about Alice’s story, and the reason why we chose to honour her, is the fact that Alice never truly received the credit that she deserved for her humanitarian efforts.

One of the most unique aspects of this project is the establishment of international contacts. Last month, we had the opportunity to host an author visit at our high school for Judy Pollard Smith, an author based out of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, who spent 9 years researching Alice and even wrote a creative, non-fiction book titled ‘Don’t Call Me Lady: The Journey of Lady Alice Seeley Harris’. Judy and our group gave multiple presentations in the school library that students and faculty were invited to attend. Judy talked about her research process, Alice’s impact on her, and in a workshop style, led the students through a creative writing and photo analysis activity. Another contact we’ve made is Rebecca Seeley Harris, who is the great-granddaughter of Alice Seeley Harris. A few weeks ago, we were able to Skype with Rebecca. Both of these women have been instrumental in our project, and it’s been an amazing opportunity to be able to talk with people all over the world.

This project has been unlike anything that I’ve ever been a part of. Unsung heroes are humble and altruistic; they aren’t motivated by superficial desires, they truly have a desire to help others. I really liked the idea of researching someone who has done something courageous in the past but hasn’t received recognition for it. I think that a lot of students today only associate true heroism with fame and fortune, but this project encourages students to think otherwise. I hope that people are inspired by Alice’s bravery like I was. I really do feel as if this project has the potential to make a difference. If anything, Alice’s amazing work is recognized and she is commended for her bravery.

]]>http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2015/05/students-honour-alice-seeley-harris-as-an-unsung-hero/feed/2Crisis Art Competitionhttp://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2015/05/crisis-art-competition/
http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2015/05/crisis-art-competition/#commentsWed, 13 May 2015 15:38:44 +0000http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/?p=7952I have always been a strong believer that art has an important role to play in society, so I am really lucky to work closely with the Walker Art Gallery and its inspiring collection of works. I recently got the opportunity to view some more inspiring art when I was asked to be involved in a competition run by run by the homeless charity Crisis.

I was invited to be a judge in the charity’s termly art competition, along with Kate Farrell, director of Crisis Skylight Merseyside. Categories for both photography and visual arts provided a diverse mix of entries for us to consider and it was fascinating to see the different approaches and styles. All the works had been created at drop in sessions run by the
charity.

The winner of the visual arts category was Jim McConnon, with a beautiful and delicate painting of poppies. Amazingly, this was Jim’s first attempt at using watercolours! The first prize for the photography went to Bernadette Davies, for a reflective and warm portrait of a young woman holding a camera. Congratulations to Jim and Bernadette!

The submissions were of a high standard and showed different skills across the group. It was interesting to read the inspiration behind each piece and to find out about the art sessions that Crisis run. It was a real insight into the incredible work that the charity does, and highlights how creativity can help to change people’s lives.

]]>http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2015/05/crisis-art-competition/feed/0Brutal Exposure reviewed by Vava Tampahttp://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2015/04/brutal-exposure-reviewed-by-vava-tampa/
http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2015/04/brutal-exposure-reviewed-by-vava-tampa/#commentsMon, 13 Apr 2015 09:30:47 +0000http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/?p=7750There are less than two months left to visit our powerful exhibition Brutal Exposure: the Congo at the International Slavery Museum. Vava Tampa, founder of Save the Congo and chair of the Morel Prize, has given his thoughts on the display:

“Brutal Exposure: the Congo at Liverpool’s International Slavery Museum is notable for many things. One of the masterpieces at the heart of this brilliantly staged installation is a still, sanitised portrait of a Congolese man Lomboto.

Simple and sublime, Lomboto’s portrait, which is also the exhibition’s lead image – and one of the few images that became iconic for colonial brutality – fills the high white wall of the exhibition’s entrance space, a small charismatic room on one of Liverpool’s defunct docks which once had a monopoly on all transport of cargo to and from the Congo.

From a distant, its large, eye-catching size looks intriguing, even inviting for your eyes to feast on – but this tainted poetic outlook is soon eclipsed by Lomboto’s distressing gaze. It’s a difficult sight to forget. He stands upright, half covered with his disfigured hand expressively placed for a public display, and stares absorbingly deep and directly onto his audience, with a patina of serenity that feels awkwardly more like a warning to those thinking of taking another step past him that: this is not a pedantic exercise into history.

Indeed, this installation, the first ever photographic installation in support of human rights, is not for those with fragile heart – not the least because this is the first ever full-scale exhibition that attempts to expose the scale and scope of King Leopold’s brutality in Congo; a story that reads like a fictional novel from abolitionists in which death, brutality and exploitation all erupt to make their presence felt with such confidence and poignancy in an attempt to harness the mood of 19th century parliamentarians, religious leaders and members of the public to take a stand against colonial brutality in some far corners of the world. That story is brilliantly told in George Washington Williams’s letter, Mark Twain’s ‘King Leopold’s Soliloquy’, Joseph Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’, Sir Conan Doyle’s ‘The Crime of the Congo’, ED Morel’s ‘Red Rubber’ and in Adam Hochschild’s ‘King Leopold’s Ghost’.

But what this exhibition does, which books often fail, is that it shines a light – without saying so – on the strength of human spirit: the refusal to turn a blind eye by the Somerset–born missionary Alice who, despite considerable censorship and the constant threat posed by the King’s army, ‘Force Publique’, dreamt up improbable but insightful ways (long before the arrival of photojournalism) to give the world and history a glimpse of the brutality used to gain access and control of Congo’s richness at the turn of the last century.

Wild rubber was coltan of that time, which Europe had a capacious appetite for. And Congo, which had been given to King Leopold as his private property at the ‘Die Kongokonferenz’ in Berlin 130 years ago this year, had the misfortune of having the only forest in the world with wild rubber. Tapping wild rubber, however, was a difficult job, and Leopold’s agents used cruel and brutal tactics to ensure the native gather rubber for the King. Any Congolese man who failed saw his wife kidnapped, those who resisted had their hands chopped, those who fought back were killed and rebellious village were razed to the ground. And by 1908 when the British campaigner ED Morel managed to sway Britain to twist Leopold’s arms into giving up his private property, an estimated 10 million Congolese had been killed in the space of 25 years.

This is what makes Alice Seeley Harris’s pictures deeply poignant, and personal. From the first piece of what this show calls ‘Brutal Exposure: The Congo’ to the amplified 19th century lecture poster, provocatively titled ‘Congo Atrocities’ – and behind which seats The Harris Lantern Slide Show, which became the lifeblood of the Congo campaign, and beside which is a large picture of Alice standing in her Victorian long dress within a mountain pile of Congolese children to other dozens of snapshot-sized photo of locals – many of which have been rarely exhibited but all reproduced anew, and stuck seemingly casually to the wall, we see Congo through Alice’s eyes; the crimes she witnessed and the victims she met.

Standing before some of the pictures, more than 100 years after they were taken, trying to fathom how was it possible that when slavery was abolished in the United States and across the Caribbean, in Congo, as recent as 1908, it was still being practiced widely and publicly, is hauntingly painful. But if the exhibition’s title suggests that this brutality is being exposed, then it misleads. For, even now, more than 100 years after Leopold, countless continue to be killed, raped and brutalised every day by local and foreign armed groups for access and control of minerals destined to sell in London, Paris, Washington and elsewhere.”

]]>http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2015/04/brutal-exposure-reviewed-by-vava-tampa/feed/0Open morning at the Royal School for the Blindhttp://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2015/02/open-morning-at-the-royal-school-for-the-blind/
http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2015/02/open-morning-at-the-royal-school-for-the-blind/#commentsThu, 19 Feb 2015 09:02:39 +0000http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/?p=7411Unsung: Liverpool’s Most Radical Son displays at the Museum of Liverpool and International Slavery Museum celebrate the campaign work of Edward Rushton, who co-founded the Royal School for the Blind in 1791. Teacher Nick Young has been blogging for us over the last few months, providing an insight into the fascinating history of the school and its work today. Here, Nick explains how the school is opening its doors for people to find out more…

“As part of the events to celebrate the life and work of Edward Rushton in this bicentennial anniversary of his death, the Royal School for the Blind, at Church Road North in Liverpool, is holding an open morning. Taking place on Saturday 7 March from 10am until midday, we invite you to come and see a part of his legacy to Liverpool.

Edward Rushton was a founder of the School, the oldest school for the Blind in the UK and second oldest in the world. We are rightly proud of our school, rightly proud of its history and heritage and extremely proud of our pupils achievements.

Why not pop in to discover a little bit of our history for yourself? Find out about:

Some of the people who have shaped the development of our school

Some artefacts from previous buildings no longer occupied by us

Some documents and pictures, giving insight into the daily life of the school’s past

Watch a video of the visit of Queen Elizabeth in 1991

We look forward to seeing you!”

]]>http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2015/02/open-morning-at-the-royal-school-for-the-blind/feed/0Lusitania: Queen of the Seas!http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2015/02/lusitania-queen-of-the-seas/
http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2015/02/lusitania-queen-of-the-seas/#commentsMon, 16 Feb 2015 09:48:42 +0000http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/?p=7378Lusitania: life, loss, legacy opens at the Merseyside Maritime Museum on 27 March. This new exhibition will tell the story of the Liverpool passenger liner RMS Lusitania and her tragic sinking during the First World War.

The sheet music for a piano waltz titled ‘Lusitania: Queens of the Seas’ is in the Museum’s archive collection. The front cover of the sheet music is signed and dated by the composer George Manners Herd on 1 January 1908, just four months after the passenger liner’s maiden voyage.

Ian Buckle performing the piano waltz

Last week we brought the music to life. The piece was performed by pianist Ian Buckle, who plays with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and it was recorded at Whitewood Studios. We had not been able to find an existing recording of the piece, so it felt particularly special to hear it being played for the first time.

The recording will feature in the first section of the exhibition, which explores the ship’s early years and her dominance of travel across the Atlantic. There was a great feeling of pride and affection for the ship in Liverpool as so many of the crew were from the city. The music helps to capture how the Lusitania was a symbol of success and optimism during this period.

]]>http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2015/02/lusitania-queen-of-the-seas/feed/4Crisis art group muralhttp://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2014/12/crisis-art-group-mural/
http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2014/12/crisis-art-group-mural/#commentsThu, 18 Dec 2014 09:32:40 +0000http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/?p=6962Throughout 2014, an art group run by the charity Crisis have visited exhibitions across our museums and galleries. Inspired by what they have seen, the group members have spent the last 12 weeks working together in their workshop on a mural which celebrates the city of Liverpool. I attended the unveiling of the fantastic artwork and got the chance to see other paintings the group have produced. There were some wonderful creations!

]]>http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2014/12/crisis-art-group-mural/feed/0Royal School for the Blind, todayhttp://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2014/12/royal-school-for-the-blind-today/
http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2014/12/royal-school-for-the-blind-today/#commentsWed, 17 Dec 2014 12:14:20 +0000http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/?p=6998An admissions register from 1791 which lists the first pupils to attend Liverpool’s Royal School for the Blind is currently on display at the Museum of Liverpool. It is part of Unsung, a display which celebrates the life of Edward Rushton, a human rights activist who started the campaign to set up the school. Teacher Nick Young gives us an insight into the ongoing work of the school today:

Nick Young: “More than two centuries of educating the visually impaired have placed the Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool as one of the leading schools of its kind. The school was founded in 1791 by Edward Rushton and was the first such school in Britain, second only to Paris in the world.

It is a non-maintained special school and a totally independent charity catering for the needs of pupils aged between two and nineteen with a visual impairment and additional disabilities, including multi-sensory. It has a long and proud history of working with students who have visual impairment. Parents and carers appreciate its warm and welcoming ethos and the total commitment shown by all staff.

In more than 200 years the school has seen many changes both in education and its physical appearance – an extensive ongoing improvement and re-furbishment programme is progressively transforming the structure and facilities to the most modern standards.

That aside, the school remains unshakable in its resolve to educate its pupils to their full potential whilst consolidating its own role as a centre of excellence. Our present phase of development includes extending our provision up to the age of 25.

One parent or carer commented, ‘This school is the perfect environment… all the staff are fantastic at communicating and helping children with profound disabilities to develop’.
Ofsted 2011″